Muscovy Duck Control

The Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) is a beautiful black and white duck with red waddle around its beak.
Native to Mexico, the Muscovy eventually found its way to Florida - where today, it is a regulated species.
Feeding heavily on insects, Muscovy ducks can be beneficial to have around, but their droppings can
quickly become a nuisance in residential neighborhoods in suburban and urban environments. If you live
in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island or surrounding communities and you need assistance with
a Muscovy duck control problem please give us a call to discuss how we may be able to help.

Meet The Muscovy Duck

Muscovy ducks are a beautiful species of waterfowl.
Muscovy are considered to be personable, intelligent and interesting, and as such are a popular subject among bird watchers.
They are great fliers who like to perch in trees or off ground, and it is not uncommon to find them on top of a house
or a balcony railing. Muscovy don't quack like a duck and many individuals find the sounds they make quite enjoyable.

The Muscovy Duck

Muscovy duck is considered by many to be one of the best quality meats available - not greasy like duck, and more like veal than poultry. Many
chefs consider it a delicacy, and prepare and serve it as such.

A Bug Eating Phenonoma

Muscovy ducks have much to offer, and are often a favorite resident on farms and rural properties, not only as a meat duck
but for their feeding habits as well - their diet include mosquitoes, flies, maggots, roaches and many other kinds of bugs,
including black widow and brown recluse spiders. They love bugs and they eat a lot of them, making a significant contribution
to the properties they call home.

When Muscovy Ducks Become A Nuisance

The Muscovy is not a naturally occurring species in Florida, however, many were eventually "released" into the wild,
most likely by individuals who decided they no longer had an interest in keeping them on their property. Today,
they can be found roaming wild in high numbers in various neighborhoods and communities throughout Southwest Florida, including rural, suburban,
and urban areas. Cape Coral, Pine Island, Sanibel Island, Fort Myers, Boca Grande - they all have Muscovy duck populations.
Some residents love the Muscovy and enjoy having them around, while others find them a nuisance and would like to keep them away,
or at least off their property.

Muscovy Ducks With Ducklings

Generally speaking, the Muscovy duck can be beneficial under certain circumstances, but under other circumstances they
can quickly become a nuisance for property owners. In Southwest Florida, residents often find Muscovy duck droppings on their lawns,
docks, driveways, sidewalks, decks and even in their swimming pools.

Muscovy also compete with native waterfowl for food and territory, cross breed with other waterfowl in the wild,
damage landscaping and destroy gardens.
In 2010, for these and other reasons, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enacted regulations concerning Muscovy ducks.

Muscovy Duck Removal

Muscovy duck regulations were enacted in 2010 for the purpose of controlling Muscovy ducks and their impact in the
United States.

Muscovy duck removal is allowed if done by the landowner or a nuisance wildlife trapper,
but relocation to the wild is not allowed, and most trappers will kill them after they are captured.

Captured Muscovy ducks are
supposed to be euthanized by humane methods, but unfortunately many trappers methods are not humane at all.

Muscovy Duck Removal Is AllowedBut Relocation In The Wild Is Not

The best thing a property owner in Southwest Florida can do for
Muscovy ducks is not allow them to become a problem to start with.

If you are having Muscovy duck issues we can utilize humane methods to help put a stop to your Muscovy duck problems.

We have extensive amounts of information on this site regarding Canada goose control, these dilemmas and methods are very similar
and if you would like to learn more about Muscovy duck control we highly recommend reading about Canada geese too.

Preventative Measures

Prevention is key when it comes to Muscovy duck problems. One of the "easiest"
things an individual can do to keep Muscovy ducks away is simply avoid feeding them.
Many individuals don't realize that human food can often cause health issues for waterfowl,
doing much more harm than good in the long run. The other problem with feeding Muscovy ducks is that it will encourage them
to stay on your property. This may seem fun at first, but you may quickly change your mind once the ducks start leaving a
slippery mess all over your beautiful lawn, sidewalk and pool deck.

A Muscovy Duck Enjoying ASwim In A Cape Coral Canal

Humane wildlife control, pest control and prevention, done right the 1st time.

Please help support our friends at
Wild Heart Ranch - a 501(c)(3)
wildlife rehabilitation facility. Even the smallest of donations
can help save an animal's life. You can donate above or visit
WildHeartRanch.org to learn more.